LEGAZPI CITY, April 22 (PIA) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) thanked the Coast Guard for rescuing six employees of the commission who were left stranded for hours off the waters of Camarines Norte after the motorized banca they were in malfunctioned.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the team, headed by Mercedes, Camarines Norte Election Officer Emily Basilonia, was returning from their scheduled Satellite Registration on April 18, 2015 in Barangay Lalawigan, the farthest in Mercedes town, when their boat suddenly went dead in the water.
The team was later rescued at 8:00 in the evening by a private banca and a team from the Philippine Coast Guard.
“Taos puso kaming nagpapasalamat sa Philippine Coast Guard sa kanilang maagap na pagsaklolo sa mga kasamahan naming nabalaho sa karagatan ng Camarines Norte. Sinasaluduhan din namin sila Election Officer Emily Basilonia at kaniyang mga kasamahan sa kanilang katapangan na suungin ang panganib, matiyak lamang na makapag-rehistro ang mga kababayan nating nasa malalayo para sila ay makaboto (We are really grateful to the Coast Guard for their immediate action that resulted to the rescue of our team off Camarines Norte waters. While the commission would also like to cite Election Officer Emily Basilonia and her team who because of the dedication to service to ensure that residents from these far flung village will be able to register to vote, they pur their lives at risk),” said Jimenez.
The poll body spokesman said that he hopes the perils faced by Comelec employees in their effort to reach out to the public, even in the far-flung areas, during satellite voter registrations will inspire others to take time to visit their local Comelec offices to register or to have their biometric data taken. (MAL/Comelec/PIA5)